Melbourne, Australia (CNN)During Serena Williams' first-round, straight-sets win over Germany's Tatjana Maria at the Australian Open, one question kept surfacing: How would you describe her green, one-piece Nike outfit?

Williams set the record straight after her convincing 6-0 6-2 victory, achieved in just 49 minutes. "It's a Serena-tard," Williams said in her post-match press conference, drawing laughter from journalists.

Elsewhere on day two in Melbourne, world No. 1 Simona Halep was sure to be in good spirits after gaining revenge over Kaia Kanepi -- her first-round conqueror at the 2018 US Open -- fighting back to win 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-2.

Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams also progressed, while the ever watchable Nick Kyrgios fell in straight sets at home to 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic.

Serena's health concerns

Not so much of a light-hearted matter for Williams is why she continues to sport compression stockings.

The American revealed she almost died after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017 due to a pulmonary embolism, a condition she had previously suffered from.

"Definitely still concerned," said Williams. "I have had some issues, and they're not done. So it's just something I just have to do for pretty much probably the rest of my career, we'll see. But I'm always at the doctor.

"With DVTs, it's very scary," she added, referring to the condition, deep vein thrombosis. "A lot of people have them. Especially for me it's incredibly frightening.

Impressive start

The last time Williams played at the Australian Open, two years ago, she tallied a 23rd major while eight weeks pregnant.

Her performance Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena -- scene of her triumph against older sister Venus in 2017 -- suggests Williams will take some stopping at her joint-most successful grand slam, and the opening fixture win against Maria tees up an intriguing contest against a rejuvenated Eugenie Bouchard.

Ominously for the rest of the field, six of those Australian Open titles have come in odd-numbered years, the exception being 2010.

There surely will be stiffer tests for Williams in Melbourne but her ball-striking and intensity might have made fans forget this is only the fourth grand slam of the 37-year-old's comeback -- the first set lasted just 18 minutes.

Serena Williams says 'I do'

Emotions running high

Such was the lopsided nature that the 74th-ranked Maria -- Williams' friend and neighbor in Florida, who also suffered from a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in 2008 -- was reduced to tears at the net when it ended.

It has been that kind of tournament so far. Britain's Harriet Dart wept after a 6-0 6-0 loss to her idol Maria Sharapova on Rod Laver Arena Monday, while emotions ran high in what might have been Andy Murray's final match.

Williams didn't want to linger in her press conference, keen on getting home to her daughter.

She, and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have posted pictures on social media of Alexis' doll, Qai Qai, and Williams said giving her daughter a black doll was something she wanted.

"Growing up, I didn't have that many opportunities to have black dolls," said Williams. "And I was just thinking, like, I want her first doll to be black.

"And her heritage, obviously she's mixed, she's Caucasian and black, but I feel like that was her first doll and I said her second doll would be Caucasian," added Williams.

"I definitely want to always teach her love and teach her ... that humans should always have love for each other, no matter what color they are."

Halep recovers

Kanepi crushed Halep in the first round of the US Open in August and when the huge-hitting Estonian took the first set in a tiebreak on Margaret Court Arena, lightning was about to strike twice. But the Romanian this time didn't succumb and earned a morale boosting win.

Kanepi -- out of action with an injury since September -- suffered from a hand blister late in the final set.

Troubled by a bad back, Halep hadn't won a match since August and split with coach Darren Cahill in the off-season after the Australian said he wanted to spend more time with his family. The two remain friends and Cahill has even been on the practice court with the 27-year-old in Melbourne.

Kyrgios' Australian Open preparations were hampered when he was bit by a spider in the off-season. Raonic spun a service web over the Australian, hitting 30 aces and surrendering only 11 points on serve in a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 triumph. Raonic -- who battles three-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka next -- was laser sharp.

Venus Williams, her ranking down to 36th after not reaching the second week of a major in 2018, rallied to beat 25th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to move one step closer to facing Serena in the fourth round. The 38-year-old trailed by a set and 5-3 before staging a comeback.

Her next challenger is France's Alize Cornet, one of the rare players on the tour to have beaten both sisters.

Like Serena, men's No. 1 Djokovic cruised -- once he overturned an early break deficit -- against US qualifier Mitchell Krueger, 6-3 6-2 6-2. Djokovic is seeking a record seventh title at Melbourne Park but first since 2016.

Luck for Japanese player

The luckiest tennis player this month in Australia? That could be Japan's Taro Daniel.

Daniel got into tournaments in Brisbane and Sydney as a lucky loser -- replacing high seeds, he earned a bye into the second round, too -- and advanced in Melbourne when Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis was forced to retire with a chest injury in the second set.

Melbourne, Australia (CNN)During Serena Williams' first-round, straight-sets win over Germany's Tatjana Maria at the Australian Open, one question kept surfacing: How would you describe her green, one-piece Nike outfit?

Williams set the record straight after her convincing 6-0 6-2 victory, achieved in just 49 minutes. "It's a Serena-tard," Williams said in her post-match press conference, drawing laughter from journalists.

Elsewhere on day two in Melbourne, world No. 1 Simona Halep was sure to be in good spirits after gaining revenge over Kaia Kanepi -- her first-round conqueror at the 2018 US Open -- fighting back to win 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-2.

Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams also progressed, while the ever watchable Nick Kyrgios fell in straight sets at home to 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic.

Serena's health concerns

Not so much of a light-hearted matter for Williams is why she continues to sport compression stockings.

The American revealed she almost died after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017 due to a pulmonary embolism, a condition she had previously suffered from.

"Definitely still concerned," said Williams. "I have had some issues, and they're not done. So it's just something I just have to do for pretty much probably the rest of my career, we'll see. But I'm always at the doctor.

"With DVTs, it's very scary," she added, referring to the condition, deep vein thrombosis. "A lot of people have them. Especially for me it's incredibly frightening.

Impressive start

The last time Williams played at the Australian Open, two years ago, she tallied a 23rd major while eight weeks pregnant.

Her performance Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena -- scene of her triumph against older sister Venus in 2017 -- suggests Williams will take some stopping at her joint-most successful grand slam, and the opening fixture win against Maria tees up an intriguing contest against a rejuvenated Eugenie Bouchard.

Ominously for the rest of the field, six of those Australian Open titles have come in odd-numbered years, the exception being 2010.

There surely will be stiffer tests for Williams in Melbourne but her ball-striking and intensity might have made fans forget this is only the fourth grand slam of the 37-year-old's comeback -- the first set lasted just 18 minutes.

Serena Williams says 'I do'

Emotions running high

Such was the lopsided nature that the 74th-ranked Maria -- Williams' friend and neighbor in Florida, who also suffered from a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in 2008 -- was reduced to tears at the net when it ended.

It has been that kind of tournament so far. Britain's Harriet Dart wept after a 6-0 6-0 loss to her idol Maria Sharapova on Rod Laver Arena Monday, while emotions ran high in what might have been Andy Murray's final match.

Williams didn't want to linger in her press conference, keen on getting home to her daughter.

She, and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have posted pictures on social media of Alexis' doll, Qai Qai, and Williams said giving her daughter a black doll was something she wanted.

"Growing up, I didn't have that many opportunities to have black dolls," said Williams. "And I was just thinking, like, I want her first doll to be black.

"And her heritage, obviously she's mixed, she's Caucasian and black, but I feel like that was her first doll and I said her second doll would be Caucasian," added Williams.

"I definitely want to always teach her love and teach her ... that humans should always have love for each other, no matter what color they are."

Halep recovers

Kanepi crushed Halep in the first round of the US Open in August and when the huge-hitting Estonian took the first set in a tiebreak on Margaret Court Arena, lightning was about to strike twice. But the Romanian this time didn't succumb and earned a morale boosting win.

Kanepi -- out of action with an injury since September -- suffered from a hand blister late in the final set.

Troubled by a bad back, Halep hadn't won a match since August and split with coach Darren Cahill in the off-season after the Australian said he wanted to spend more time with his family. The two remain friends and Cahill has even been on the practice court with the 27-year-old in Melbourne.

Kyrgios' Australian Open preparations were hampered when he was bit by a spider in the off-season. Raonic spun a service web over the Australian, hitting 30 aces and surrendering only 11 points on serve in a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 triumph. Raonic -- who battles three-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka next -- was laser sharp.

Venus Williams, her ranking down to 36th after not reaching the second week of a major in 2018, rallied to beat 25th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to move one step closer to facing Serena in the fourth round. The 38-year-old trailed by a set and 5-3 before staging a comeback.

Her next challenger is France's Alize Cornet, one of the rare players on the tour to have beaten both sisters.

Like Serena, men's No. 1 Djokovic cruised -- once he overturned an early break deficit -- against US qualifier Mitchell Krueger, 6-3 6-2 6-2. Djokovic is seeking a record seventh title at Melbourne Park but first since 2016.

Luck for Japanese player

The luckiest tennis player this month in Australia? That could be Japan's Taro Daniel.

Daniel got into tournaments in Brisbane and Sydney as a lucky loser -- replacing high seeds, he earned a bye into the second round, too -- and advanced in Melbourne when Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis was forced to retire with a chest injury in the second set.

]]>958I Went To One Of Those Extreme Haunted Houses, But Something Went Horribly, Horribly Wronghttps://dietandweightloss.tips4all.eu/i-went-to-one-of-those-extreme-haunted-houses-but-something-went-horribly-horribly-wrong/
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:31:55 +0000https://dietandweightloss.tips4all.eu/?p=955

I Went To One Of Those Extreme Haunted Houses, But Something Went Horribly, Horribly Wrong

I was never much for Halloween mazes; there were a lot better ways I could think of to spend 35 dollars. I guess I never saw the point knowing it’s not real and all. I mean really, how scary can a bunch of actors and smoke machines really be? Steve though…he was so amped to go, I just couldn’t tell him no.

“Alright, we’re here.” said Jade.

“Remember.” said Tanya, lined up to get in. “Stay close to each other so that we don’t get separated this time.”

“What do you mean this time?” I said. “Separated?”

“Yeah.” Tanya looked back and said. “It gets crazy inside the mazes.“

I didn’t take her too seriously… It was only a silly Halloween maze after all.

The line attendant started to make an announcement which broke my train of thought, “Please get your IDs ready so we can get the waivers signed and let you be on your way!”

“Why do we need waivers?” I said.

“So the actors can touch us!” said Steve, before the line attendant could open her mouth to speak.

“And we want that why?” I looked at Steve, then the rest of the group, who also seemed all for the idea.

“It brings the whole being-chased-by-a-killer feeling to life.” Said Tanya.

I Went To One Of Those Extreme Haunted Houses, But Something Went Horribly, Horribly Wrong

I was never much for Halloween mazes; there were a lot better ways I could think of to spend 35 dollars. I guess I never saw the point knowing it’s not real and all. I mean really, how scary can a bunch of actors and smoke machines really be? Steve though…he was so amped to go, I just couldn’t tell him no.

“Alright, we’re here.” said Jade.

“Remember.” said Tanya, lined up to get in. “Stay close to each other so that we don’t get separated this time.”

“What do you mean this time?” I said. “Separated?”

“Yeah.” Tanya looked back and said. “It gets crazy inside the mazes.“

I didn’t take her too seriously… It was only a silly Halloween maze after all.

The line attendant started to make an announcement which broke my train of thought, “Please get your IDs ready so we can get the waivers signed and let you be on your way!”

“Why do we need waivers?” I said.

“So the actors can touch us!” said Steve, before the line attendant could open her mouth to speak.

“And we want that why?” I looked at Steve, then the rest of the group, who also seemed all for the idea.

“It brings the whole being-chased-by-a-killer feeling to life.” Said Tanya.

In a jaw-dropping tweet President Donald Trump touted coverage by an unidentified Washington Post “competitor” — though clearly the National Enquirer — of the story behind the breakup of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos’ marriage. But Trump called him “Jeff Bozo.”

The dig on Sunday was particularly astonishing because National Enquirer chief executive David Pecker allegedly arranged to pay porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to “catch and kill” their stories about their alleged affairs with Trump. The hush money, allegedly directed by Trump and provided through his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, is being investigated as a possible unreported and illegal campaign contribution.

The Enquirer’s parent company, American Media, admitted to federal prosecutors that it had paid McDougal $150,000 to “suppress” her story with the express intention of boosting Trump’s chances to win the presidency. Pecker has been given immunity to cooperate with investigators.

Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, and his wife, MacKenzie Bezos, announced in a statement Wednesday that they had decided to divorce after 25 years of marriage. The Enquirer later that day published a story online about Bezos’ alleged relationship with former Fox TV personality Laura Sanchez and followed up with a longer print version of a piece it touted as a major investigative article.

On Thursday, Trump seemed almost sensitive about the situation, and told reporters of Bezos and the divorce: “I wish him luck. It’s gonna be a beauty.”

But his tone was different Sunday as he gloated about the Enquirer’s coverage of Bezos. He had nothing to say about the Enquirer’s total miss on the Daniels — and McDougal — story.

In a jaw-dropping tweet President Donald Trump touted coverage by an unidentified Washington Post “competitor” — though clearly the National Enquirer — of the story behind the breakup of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos’ marriage. But Trump called him “Jeff Bozo.”

The dig on Sunday was particularly astonishing because National Enquirer chief executive David Pecker allegedly arranged to pay porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to “catch and kill” their stories about their alleged affairs with Trump. The hush money, allegedly directed by Trump and provided through his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, is being investigated as a possible unreported and illegal campaign contribution.

The Enquirer’s parent company, American Media, admitted to federal prosecutors that it had paid McDougal $150,000 to “suppress” her story with the express intention of boosting Trump’s chances to win the presidency. Pecker has been given immunity to cooperate with investigators.

Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, and his wife, MacKenzie Bezos, announced in a statement Wednesday that they had decided to divorce after 25 years of marriage. The Enquirer later that day published a story online about Bezos’ alleged relationship with former Fox TV personality Laura Sanchez and followed up with a longer print version of a piece it touted as a major investigative article.

On Thursday, Trump seemed almost sensitive about the situation, and told reporters of Bezos and the divorce: “I wish him luck. It’s gonna be a beauty.”

But his tone was different Sunday as he gloated about the Enquirer’s coverage of Bezos. He had nothing to say about the Enquirer’s total miss on the Daniels — and McDougal — story.

First, I wondered where the Jewish leaders were. After all, Jewish women have historically played prominent roles in second-wave feminism. Where were this generation’s Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinem? The omission of Jewish women in leadership roles was ominous, and as I learned over the coming months, my feelings were justified.

The first Women’s March, held in January 2017, omitted Jews from its list of so-called “Unity Principles” — minority groups whose rights they were making it their mission to protect. It was a glaring oversight considering that for years prior to Trump’s candidacy, the FBI reported that Jews were on the receiving end of more reported hate crimes (56.8 percent) than other religious groups, well ahead of Muslims (16.1 percent), who were included in the principles.

The Women’s March quickly became a monument to intersectionality — a matrix of marginalized groups joining forces to fight a common enemy in the form of the cis-gender white male, otherwise known as the patriarchy and personified in Donald Trump. But while Jews make up just 2 percent of the American population and are targets of rising hate crimes on both the right and the left, the Jewish faith — and by extension, Israel — is inexplicably considered by march leaders to represent the zenith of power.

This is why, as I predicted, none of the speakers at the first Women’s March spoke about the protection of Jews. Yet, other speakers, like Angela Davis, called for a free Palestine. And among photos from the event, I spotted a young woman holding up a sign that read: Free Birth Control and Palestine! It was the perfect example of how marchers wrongly conflate women’s rights with a hatred of Israel.

In fact, Jews have long been at the forefront of the women’s rights movement. The oral contraceptive pill was developed by Dr. Gregory Goodwin Pincus, a Jewish biologist and researcher recruited by Margaret Sanger when she met him at a Planned Parenthood benefit in 1951. That was my Uncle Goody, and without him the invention of the Pill and reproductive rights in America would likely have had a later start.

Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” was the seminal work that ignited second-wave feminism. Bella Abzug was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress, whose first vote was in support of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The first Women’s March was just the beginning of my concerns. A few weeks later, the International Women’s Strike, co-sponsored by the Women’s March, included “Justice for Palestine” among the causes that “are . . . the beating heart of this new feminist movement.” One of the eight promoters of this event was Rasmea Odeh, a terrorist convicted for her role in two bombings in Jerusalem in 1969, one of which killed two college students. (Odeh has since been deported to her native Jordan.)

Linda Sarsour, the Palestinian-American co-chair of the Women’s March, is clear about her stance on Israel. In 2017, she told The Nation that a Zionist could not call herself a feminist.

But when I posted my concerns on my Facebook page, they were rejected as no longer relevant to the immediate crises of the Trump era. When I shared my concerns about anti-Semitism in the Women’s March leadership, including their unwavering support of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, I was told I needed to be schooled in anti-blackness. According to a recent investigative report for Tablet Magazine, deep-seeded anti-Semitism was obvious from the very first meeting between march organizers, with Carmen Perez and Tamika Mallory reportedly refusing to include Jewish women in leadership positions because, they alleged, Jews bear the “collective responsibility as exploiters of black and brown people.”

Now that we know the truth about the leaders who refuse to step down, I call on my fellow Jews to skip the third Women’s March, on Saturday, Jan. 19, and instead join me in celebrating Shabbat. American Jews should unite in what connects us as Jews — and not march with those who divide us as Americans.

Melanie Notkin is the author of “Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness.” In 1997, she played a key role in the launch of NJOP’s Shabbat Across America. The 23rd annual event is March 1, 2019.

First, I wondered where the Jewish leaders were. After all, Jewish women have historically played prominent roles in second-wave feminism. Where were this generation’s Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinem? The omission of Jewish women in leadership roles was ominous, and as I learned over the coming months, my feelings were justified.

The first Women’s March, held in January 2017, omitted Jews from its list of so-called “Unity Principles” — minority groups whose rights they were making it their mission to protect. It was a glaring oversight considering that for years prior to Trump’s candidacy, the FBI reported that Jews were on the receiving end of more reported hate crimes (56.8 percent) than other religious groups, well ahead of Muslims (16.1 percent), who were included in the principles.

The Women’s March quickly became a monument to intersectionality — a matrix of marginalized groups joining forces to fight a common enemy in the form of the cis-gender white male, otherwise known as the patriarchy and personified in Donald Trump. But while Jews make up just 2 percent of the American population and are targets of rising hate crimes on both the right and the left, the Jewish faith — and by extension, Israel — is inexplicably considered by march leaders to represent the zenith of power.

This is why, as I predicted, none of the speakers at the first Women’s March spoke about the protection of Jews. Yet, other speakers, like Angela Davis, called for a free Palestine. And among photos from the event, I spotted a young woman holding up a sign that read: Free Birth Control and Palestine! It was the perfect example of how marchers wrongly conflate women’s rights with a hatred of Israel.

In fact, Jews have long been at the forefront of the women’s rights movement. The oral contraceptive pill was developed by Dr. Gregory Goodwin Pincus, a Jewish biologist and researcher recruited by Margaret Sanger when she met him at a Planned Parenthood benefit in 1951. That was my Uncle Goody, and without him the invention of the Pill and reproductive rights in America would likely have had a later start.

Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” was the seminal work that ignited second-wave feminism. Bella Abzug was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress, whose first vote was in support of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The first Women’s March was just the beginning of my concerns. A few weeks later, the International Women’s Strike, co-sponsored by the Women’s March, included “Justice for Palestine” among the causes that “are . . . the beating heart of this new feminist movement.” One of the eight promoters of this event was Rasmea Odeh, a terrorist convicted for her role in two bombings in Jerusalem in 1969, one of which killed two college students. (Odeh has since been deported to her native Jordan.)

Linda Sarsour, the Palestinian-American co-chair of the Women’s March, is clear about her stance on Israel. In 2017, she told The Nation that a Zionist could not call herself a feminist.

But when I posted my concerns on my Facebook page, they were rejected as no longer relevant to the immediate crises of the Trump era. When I shared my concerns about anti-Semitism in the Women’s March leadership, including their unwavering support of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, I was told I needed to be schooled in anti-blackness. According to a recent investigative report for Tablet Magazine, deep-seeded anti-Semitism was obvious from the very first meeting between march organizers, with Carmen Perez and Tamika Mallory reportedly refusing to include Jewish women in leadership positions because, they alleged, Jews bear the “collective responsibility as exploiters of black and brown people.”

Now that we know the truth about the leaders who refuse to step down, I call on my fellow Jews to skip the third Women’s March, on Saturday, Jan. 19, and instead join me in celebrating Shabbat. American Jews should unite in what connects us as Jews — and not march with those who divide us as Americans.

Melanie Notkin is the author of “Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness.” In 1997, she played a key role in the launch of NJOP’s Shabbat Across America. The 23rd annual event is March 1, 2019.